Zdzisław Beksiński (1929–2005) was one of the most prominent and fascinating Polish contemporary artists. Although an architect by education, he gained worldwide fame as a painter, sculptor, photographer, and computer graphic artist. His work is inextricably linked to the Fantastic Realism movement.
His most prolific and famous period occurred during the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, he created monumental paintings featuring post-apocalyptic landscapes, bizarre creatures, abandoned cathedrals, and figures decaying or wrapped in bandages. Beksiński consistently avoided interpreting his works, claiming he painted dreams and visions rather than specific messages. Despite the dark, oneiric aesthetic of his art, the artist himself was known to be a pleasant person, though he shied away from public appearances.
Today, his largest collection of works is preserved at the Historical Museum in Sanok, his hometown.